LAST WEEK, Attorney General Maura Healey issued an Enforcement Notice to provide certainty to Massachusetts gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and residents on how her office will enforce our state’s 18-year-old assault weapons […]
5 AGs back Healey on gun directive
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Russia, if you’re listening…
In the midst of a Democratic telethon suggesting Donald Trump is a man unfit to be president, Trump stepped forward and made the case himself. At a news conference in […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Cities likely to be key election battleground
PHILADELPHIA —Â Massachusetts is likely to be an electoral sure thing in November for Hillary Clinton and the Democrats, so urban voters across the state probably won’t hold much sway during […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns
Downing backs Healey’s gun notice
What follows is a statement Sen. Ben Downing of Pittsfield posted on his office website. Many of my constituents have asked about my position on Attorney General Healey’s recent “Enforcement […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns, State House News Service
Naughton slams Healey on gun rule
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The House’s point person on public safety issues is questioning Attorney General Maura Healey’s recent action to crack down on the sale of copycat assault weapons in […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
No subsidies for gas pipeline projects
IT’S CRUNCH TIME when it comes to the Omnibus Energy Bill that is being debated on Beacon Hill. Lawmakers have to decide if they will continue to promote fossil fuel […]
Posted inDrug Addiction, Opinion
Too many opioid prescriptions get written
CONGRESS HAS HELPED MASSACHUSETTS and the nation take another step forward in the battle against prescription drug abuse. The Comprehensive Recovery and Addiction Act (CARA), a bipartisan effort incorporating several […]
Posted inThe Download
New Turnpike tolls are coming
All-electronic tolling launches on the Massachusetts Turnpike in October. Are you ready? The folks at Masslive are all over this story. They’ve created a catalogue of stories on the new […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns, Politics, State House News Service
Baker seeks Healey gun clarification
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER urged Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday to clarify her stepped up enforcement of the state’s assault weapons ban, warning that “ambiguities” in […]
Posted inEnvironment
DPU-Eversource communications probed
THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES is investigating whether one of its employees had improper communication with an attorney for Eversource Energy, which is seeking state approval to assess its […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Michelle Obama as prophet of compassionate family values
CALL HER THE Democrats’ prophet of family values. With wit and guile, charisma and wisdom, Michelle Obama proved herself worthy of that title last night in her speech to Democratic […]
Posted inThe Download
Baker reaffirms no new taxes
Gov. Charlie Baker reaffirmed his support for no new taxes on Monday, disavowing statements last week and making clear he is not as progressive as many in Massachusetts seem to […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes
MBTA Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan said staff overtime and crime are both down at the T, and fare evasion citations are up 51 percent so far this year. In a […]
Posted inHealth Care, Opinion, Politics
Prison is no place to treat mentally ill
IN APRIL, LEO MARINO, a 43-year-old man with a long history of suicide attempts, killed himself in an isolation unit at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH). He’d managed to choke himself […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Shame on enviro group
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, the New Hampshire Legislature has debated and killed repeated efforts to require that transmission line be buried in New Hampshire. Fueled by opposition to the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Baker flip-flops on Airbnb tax
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER, admitting Monday that he spoke too soon last week when he endorsed a Senate plan to tax short-term housing rentals, showed himself to […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Healey gun order prompts political backlash
The political backlash to Attorney General Maura Healey’s crackdown on what she calls illegal copycat assault weapons began over the weekend, as legislation was filed to strip her of her […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns, Opinion, Politics
56 lawmakers to Healey: Back down
What follows is a letter 56 House and Senate lawmakers sent to Attorney General Maura Healey on Saturday and released to the press on Sunday. The lead signers were the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Legislature approves pay equity bill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WHEN GOV. CHARLIE BAKER returns to the State House on Monday, he will have on his desk legislation to ensure that men and women are paid […]
Posted inTransportation
Union blasts Baker on armored car sunroofs
MBTA WORKERS BLASTED Gov. Charlie Baker for asserting someone at the agency cut sun roofs into two armored cars which the union said were in the vehicles since they were […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns
Healey clears gun buyers
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEYÂ decided to allow those who bought nearly 2,300 assault weapons in Massachusetts to keep their new guns even though they were purchased after she ordered the sales […]
Posted inGambling
DEP chief OKs Wynn permit
THE COMMISSIONER of the Department of Environmental Protection issued a two-page decision on Friday affirming the issuance of a key environmental permit to Wynn Resorts for its $2 billion hotel-casino […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 12: Baker and the T
Baker this week waded into the weeds at the MBTA and tried to adjust public expectations, warning that the turnaround at the T would take years to accomplish. Eileen McAnneny, […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
The Codcast: Baker and the T
There’s no consensus about what specific actions the MBTA should take to right itself, but so far everyone seems to appreciate the work of the all-volunteer Fiscal Management and Control […]